DFMDecember2015
Ben Freeman swims the English Channel. Below left: Ben before his solo swim at Dover Harbour with the
pilot boat that guided him across the Channel. Photos used with permission.
13
B
en Freeman is
planning to follow
his father and join
the Army — a land-based
career. But for now, he
can’t stay out of the water.
In August this year, the then
17 year-old became the
third-youngest Aussie to
complete a solo crossing of
the English Channel.
Ben’s inspiration came
from open water legend,
Trent Grimsey, who in 2012
broke the world record for
the fastest English Channel
crossing.
“From about the age of
eight, I used to train with
Trent and he inspired me to
swim the English Channel,”
Ben said.
Ben completed the
crossing in nine hours and
10 minutes, thanks to a
training regime that saw him
spending up to eight hours a
day in the water.
“Mentally and physically
it was very tough — it
pushed me almost to my limit
—
but...Ihadalotof
confidence in my ability due
to the training I had done.”
Last year Ben was
making a splash at another
international event.
In 2014, Ben not only
competed in a 15km open
water swim in Hong Kong
—
he crossed the finish line
more than an hour before
his closest rival.
There were more than
300 swimmers in that event.
Outside of swimming,
Ben has participated in
other pursuits, including
three years with the
Australian Army Cadets,
where he achieved the
rank of SGT.
When not working or
pursuing sporting activities,
Ben and his family are
active in the Canberra
community.
Ben said he and his
family have raised more
than $40,000 for charity over
the past few years.
After finishing Year 12
this year, Ben is hoping to
receive a scholarship to
swim in the United States.
He then plans to return
home to Australia to attend
the Royal Military College. n
MAKING A
SPLASH
GRAHAM ORAMS